LLM Law - International Commercial Law
- LLM
Overview
The LLM International Commercial Law offers a wide-ranging study of transnational business transactions, international commercial arbitration, international trade rules and market influences on law. Studying this programme allows you to develop skills to embrace the challenges and opportunities presented by law in a global environment.
You will gain knowledge and critically analyse specialist areas of international commercial law, such as:
- Interactions between law and markets
- Cross-border sale of goods
- Insurance law
- International commercial arbitration, amongst others.
This programme is designed for those who are seeking careers in commercial law, in-house legal roles and consultancy. You will develop crucial analytical, communication and research skills valued by top employers.
Our programmes are well respected by leading law firms, with Bristol ranking within the top UK universities for employer reputation for law and legal studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). The University of Bristol is ranked 54th in the world and 9th in the UK for Law (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026).
We support the development of your legal research and writing skills throughout the course, from pre-arrival preparation and targeted support in Terms 1 and 2, to workshops and one-to-one sessions over the summer as you work on your dissertation.
Choosing a postgraduate law degree from the University of Bristol, ranked third in the UK for legal research excellence (THE analysis of REF 2021), means engaging in a rigorous, research-rich curriculum that will make you stand out to employers. You will be challenged and inspired by our world-leading academics who are part of the Law School’s Centre for Private and Commercial Law and Centre for International Law.
Programme structure
Our vibrant international community and diverse teaching methods enrich the LLM experience at the University of Bristol. You’ll engage with course materials and benefit from regular, in-depth interaction with tutors who are leaders in their fields, as well as with your peers, through a blend of lectures, seminars, bespoke skills workshops and structured independent learning.
Our wide range of optional units reflect the expertise of our globally renowned academics, allowing you to further specialise your degree. As part of this programme, you will study four units and a compulsory dissertation. You will craft a bespoke programme of modules reflecting your interests across this field, including intellectual property and IT law, trade, corporate law and corporate governance, and financial regulation.
- Students will learn Law and Markets, examining the complex world of commercial markets and investigating how markets are regulated. You will also have the opportunity to explore a case-study relevant to international commercial law.
- Optional units typically include International Commercial Arbitration, International Sale of Goods and World Trade Law and more.
- Choose between an innovative group dissertation pathway or an individual dissertation research project, allowing you to develop key employability skills such as teamwork, or individual project planning and management. You’ll be supervised by an expert in the field and supported through a tailored programme of development activities to help you succeed in your chosen pathway.
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for the LLM International Commercial Law.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in Law.
OR an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent non-law degree in a related field, such as Business, Economics, Management or Finance.
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will also consider your application if you subject is not listed above, if you evidence of significant academic or professional experience (at least 12 months, paid) in fields including, but not limited to: commercial practice, financial services practice and policymaking; corporate or commercial law, arbitration, regulation or policy.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.
If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have a relevant postgraduate qualification.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £15,700 per year
- Home: part-time
- £7,850 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £29,400 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
Information about funding and scholarships can be found on the University of Bristol Law School funding webpages. This includes information about the Law School's Think Big about Law and Justice Scholarships, open to international postgraduate students.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
Graduating from a world-leading university, ranked 51st in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026), opens doors to careers in a variety of sectors, including roles in commercial law, in-house legal counsel and government consultancy in global organisations.
You can expect to:
- Develop and deepen your understanding of international commercial law.
- Build transferable skills.
- Receive a springboard into a diverse range of careers.
- Benefit from boosted prospects for those already working in related fields.
- Begin your journey towards a career in research.
The LLM in International Commercial Law prepares graduates for careers in corporate and commercial law, both in the UK and internationally. Alumni have gone on to work in leading firms such as Allen & Linklaters, take up advisory and in-house roles with organisations including EY and the European Investment Bank, and pursue positions in international law and public sector bodies like the United Nations (UN).
Our alumna, Panida Doungrutana, has written a blog describing her University of Bristol story and how it helped her to become a successful lawyer in Thailand.
The University of Bristol Law School provides students with careers information and guidance, dedicated Law Employability support and access to mentoring schemes with alumni across the world. Explore our careers and employability webpages for more information about the support and opportunities we provide during your studies.
Read our Law student blogs to learn more about student life and the careers our graduates go on to after graduation.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk